SC asks NHRC to probe Salwa rights violation

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the National Human Rights Commission to inquire into allegations of human rights violations by Salwa Judum (Peace Mission) activists in Chhattisgarh.

The Centre, however, backed government's counter-Naxal measures saying that the ultras movement has reached an alarming situation in the state. A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran directed NHRC to appoint a committee to inquire into alleged human rights violations in the state.

The court asked the commission to present a report on the matter within 2 months. Additional solicitor-general Gopal Subramanium appearing for Centre said: "The situation in the state has reached an alarming situation. The objective of the Naxal movement is two fold: Every people's resistance is viewed as enemy aimed at destruction. Second, the Special Police Officers created to counter the menace is also viewed as opponent to be killed."

Subramanium cited 211 killings by Naxals in which 3 politicians were also killed. He also said that the Naxals were behind the killings of 60 people with the feudal background.

"It shows that the situation has reached an alarming proportion which necessitates tough counter insurgency measures," said Subramanium. To substantiate the claim of Naxal menace reaching an alarming proportion in the state, Subramanium produced the relevant material and photographs showing killings by Naxalites.

"Our stand is that of backing of the state government's counter insurgency measures, irrespective of the political persuasion of the state government," said Subramanium.

However, Subramanium said that the Centre has no difficulty into an independent inquiry of alleged human rights violations by the people's movement of Salwa Judum. Chhattisgarh government, on the other hand, in an affidavit told the Supreme Court that Naxal menace has reached alarming proportion in the state and it cannot stifle any people's initiative in the form of Salwa Judum movement to combat the ultras' illegal activities.